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View: Focus on accessibility

A bill in the New York State Legislature S would eliminate the word "handicapped" before the word "accessible" and would change the universal icon signage symbol representing a person seated in a wheelchair with an icon of a person seated in a wheelchair appearing to be in motion.

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View: Focus on accessibility

Joseph L. Guagliano
5:47 p.m. EDT June 14, 2014

A bill in the Senate and Assembly would eliminate the word "handicapped" before the word "accessible" and would change the universal icon signage symbol representing a person seated in a wheelchair with an icon of a person seated in a wheelchair appearing to be in motion.

A bill in the state Senate and Assembly would change the accessible signage to use this icon which shows a person in a wheelchair in motion.(Photo: Submited)

The general perception of people with disabilities is that they are helpless and to be pitied. This stigma cuts across all aspects of American society. The New York state Legislature seeks to address this misunderstanding. A bill in the Senate and Assembly would eliminate the word "handicapped" before the word "accessible." Additionally, these bills change the universal icon signage symbol representing a person seated in a wheelchair with an icon of a person seated in a wheelchair appearing to be in motion. The elimination of the word "handicapped" and the new symbol of disability represents the fact that persons with all disabilities can be high achievers and compete with their non-disabled peers.

According to Alpha One Communications, the movement to change the universal symbol of disability began with the work of Professor Brian Glenney of Gordon College in Massachusetts. Gordon College was the first college to change the universal symbol of disability to a wheelchair in motion. "The (old) handicap symbol, visible in every public building in the western world, offers a lifeless, passive, helpless and medical representation of people with disabilities," according to Glenney. The City of New York has decided to update the International Symbol of Access with the newer design (a wheelchair in motion), created by the "Accessible Icon Project."

Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, and Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining, recognize that the word "handicapped" and the current symbol of disability perpetuates the stigma that persons with disabilities are in some way "broken." Nothing could be further from the truth. People with disabilities are as talented as everyone else and work hard to overcome their disabilities each and every day. The changes proposed by Sen. Carlucci and Assemblywoman Galef will lead to greater inclusion and acceptance of persons with disabilities in their communities and are in step with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The disability rights movement has made great strides over the past few decades. Discrimination against persons with disabilities is illegal under the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and the ADA. Let us continue to change the perception of individuals with disabilities. Remember, disability doesn't necessarily mean inability.

The writer is legislative advocate, Westchester Independent Living Center in White Plains.